The Buffalo Sabres defeated the Boston Bruins 3-1 on Thursday night, seizing a 2-1 lead in their best-of-seven NHL first-round playoff series. Following a dramatic second period that completely shifted the momentum, Buffalo secured a critical victory on home ice to put the Bruins on their heels ahead of Sunday’s Game 4 in Boston.
The turning point arrived midway through the contest when Boston’s Viktor Arvidsson missed a penalty shot after being taken down by Rasmus Dahlin. Roughly one minute later, Buffalo’s Bowen Byram capitalized on the chaotic energy, burying a one-timer to tie the game. According to a detailed Game 3 recap by the Associated Press, Byram’s tying goal sparked a momentum shift that also highlighted Alex Lyon’s impressive 24-save performance in his first 2026 postseason start. Lyon stepped in to replace Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and locked down the crease for the remainder of the night.
Tanner Jeannot initially opened the scoring for Boston early in the second period, but the Bruins could not solve Lyon a second time. In the third period, Alex Tuch broke the 1-1 deadlock by firing a loose puck past a screened Jeremy Swayman, who finished the night with 25 saves. Noah Ostlund later secured the win with an empty-net goal with 1:24 remaining in regulation. Notably, the Sabres went 0-for-4 on the power play Thursday, extending their struggles to 0-for-13 on the man advantage during this opening series.
This pivotal victory adds another chapter to a historic run for Buffalo, a team that recently snapped an NHL-record 14-year playoff drought by winning the Atlantic Division. By regaining home-ice advantage despite an anemic power play, the Sabres have proven they can win tight, low-scoring playoff battles at even strength. The pressure now shifts entirely onto Boston to defend their home ice on Sunday and avoid falling into a dangerous 3-1 deficit.